We are excited to showcase the “Birthing on the Way” project, led by Esther Sharma, PhD student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and professional midwife. The project, supervised by our school faculty, Assoc Prof Natasha Howard—who also holds a joint appointment with LSHTM—delves into the perinatal experiences of Afghan women migrating through Serbia en route to the EU, and the perspectives of those working in various capacities with women during pregnancy or birth. It aims to provide them a platform to voice their experiences and influence the support provided by NGOs and health professionals.
Esther’s research uncovered critical insights, including the impacts of border regimes on maternal and newborn health and the challenges faced by women due to restricted hospital policies in Serbia. These findings are crucial for understanding the unique needs of Afghan women in transit and for informing better healthcare practices.
In addition, inspired by a commitment to make academic research accessible, Esther Sharma chose to communicate her findings through a webcomic, developed with input from Afghan women and illustrated by Shae White. This webcomic represents a composite narrative of their stories, making the research findings engaging and ensuring authenticity and emotional resonance. This innovative approach highlights the challenges and resilience of these women and serves as an educational tool for health professionals and the wider public.
The webcomic is available in English, Dari, and Serbian, which offers a creative and impactful way of communicating complex research findings, with the objective to foster empathy, raise awareness, and prompt action among diverse audiences.
Birthing on the Way, and their recent publication which further details the webcomic development here.